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Breaking with tradition: Remodelling naval strategic thinking and outcomes using an open innovation approach.

The article builds upon one of the main conclusions of the monograph Re-evaluating Irish National Security that an organisational shift by the Irish Navy towards service level agreements and memoranda of understanding with other national security providers, positively impacted upon Irish national security. As a consequence of naval innovation in intra- and inter-organisational relationships, maritime-related globalised security threats were more effectively and efficiently contained (e.g. seaborne narcotics, environmental degradation). The article argues that further extension of the navy’s internalised logic of outward facing innovation through cooperation has altered deeply sedimented ideas and practices and, moreover, prompted a reimagining of naval role and function towards traditionally civilian concerns (e.g. job creation). This reimagining represents a significant challenge to the boundaries of strategic studies. Conceptually, the article posits systematic innovation, a multi-disciplinary approach of organisational behaviour, as a means to both undertake contemporary naval analysis and as an approach by navies and their partners to achieving goals of joined up security, where security is broadly understood and participants are highly varied. The article is co-authored with Dr Terry Warburton, who assisted the principal author in delivering innovation training to the Irish Navy but did not undertake primary research for the article.